Dravid hails Padikkal after maiden Test century vs Sri Lanka
Devdutt Padikkal scored his maiden Test century in the India Sri Lanka Galle Test, finishing with 211 runs across both innings and Player of the Match honours. Rahul Dravid praised the No. 3 for grabbing his opportunity after replacing injured Sai Sudharsan—a knock the former captain said set up India's comfortable win.
Padikkal's breakout performance in the series opener has drawn glowing praise from one of India's greatest No. 3 batters. Dravid called it exactly what the role demands: a big hundred on days one and two that frames the entire match.
Key Takeaways
- Padikkal scored 167 in the first innings and 44 in the second for 211 runs—India's highest No. 3 aggregate vs Sri Lanka since Dravid's 215 in 2009.
- Dravid said Padikkal grabbed his chance after Sai Sudharsan's injury opened a spot in the squad.
- India won comfortably in Galle behind Padikkal's batting and Manav Suthar's 10-wicket haul.
- On day four, India stretched their lead to 294 runs before setting Sri Lanka a target of 372, per Reuters.
- South Africa spinner Keshav Maharaj called Suthar a real gem after the left-armer took 17 wickets in his first two Tests.
What did Rahul Dravid say about Padikkal's Galle century?
Dravid framed Padikkal's rise as a textbook case of seizing an unexpected opening. "I think Devdutt doesn't get many continuous opportunities, so he only got into the team because Sai Sudharsan was injured. Got his opportunity and he's really grabbed it," Dravid said.
He added that Padikkal played really well in both innings and delivered what a No. 3 must on the opening days: make a big hundred, make a big score. That kind of total, Dravid noted, really sets up the Test match—and it was no surprise India was able to win that Test match comfortably on the back of Padikkal's batting on days one and two.
Dravid also welcomed seeing a bench player step up: "Happy to see that even when you get a guy off the bench, he's able to perform and do really well."
Why does Padikkal's maiden Test hundred matter for India?
Padikkal's 167 off 230 balls in the first innings and 44 off 75 in the second gave him 211 runs for the match—the highest by an Indian No. 3 against Sri Lanka since Dravid's 215 in Ahmedabad in 2009, when Dravid made 177 and 38.
Dravid still holds the outright Indian record for most runs by a No. 3 in a single Test: 305 against Australia at Adelaide in 2003, built on 233 and 72 not out. Padikkal's Galle tally sits just below Dravid's Sri Lanka benchmark, underscoring the scale of the achievement.
India's win was built on two standout contributions: Padikkal's batting and Suthar's 10-wicket haul. For more breakout sports moments, see our Celebrity Breaking News hub.
How did the India Sri Lanka Galle Test unfold?
India posted 462 in their first innings after Padikkal's big hundred, then bowled Sri Lanka out for 284 for a first-innings lead of 178. On day four, India reached 116-4 at lunch with an overall lead of 294, Reuters reported.
Padikkal fell lbw to debutant off-spinner Keshara Nuwantha for 44 in the second innings. India were eventually bowled out for 193, setting Sri Lanka 372 to win in a rain-marred contest where quick scoring was needed to force a result.
Meanwhile, Suthar's figures of 4/71 and 6/55 drew praise from Maharaj, who told reporters India had found a real gem to carry the Test spin legacy forward when senior stars eventually move on.